Friday, May 16, 2025

Search

Trauma Center at AtlantiCare Marks 20th Year of Serving Community

 

By Sponsored Content

The Harrah’s Regional Trauma Center at AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center marked its twentieth year of serving the community June 1 with a staff breakfast and a patient reunion luncheon. Since the Center opened it has cared for nearly 26,000 of the most critically injured patients in the region.
“The Trauma Center has brought many great people to AtlantiCare who save lives,” said David Tilton, president and CEO, AtlantiCare, who was president and CEO of AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center, part of the regional healthcare provider AtlantiCare, when the Trauma Center opened June 1, 1992. “It has changed who we are as an organization, and how we provide care.” Tilton said the Trauma Center Program was the impetus that led to AtlantiCare’s offering other regional services, including cardiac surgery at ARMC’s Heart Institute and the stroke, spine and brain injury care at the AtlantiCare Neurosciences Institute.
“The entire trauma team contributes to care of our patients,” said Alexander Axelrad, MD, medical director, ARMC Trauma Program, as he thanked the Trauma surgeons, specialty surgeons, nurses, technicians and the many support staff who contribute to care of trauma patients.
“Through their work and dedication and care I’m standing here today,” said Michael Kevin Ennis, of Wenonah, New Jersey, during the luncheon. The team cared for Ennis for 52 days last year after a pick-up truck struck the motorcycle he and a friend were riding as well as his wife Robin’s motorcycle and other vehicles May 14, 2011. His wife and friend died as a result of the crash. Ennis, a foreman for South Jersey Gas and a volunteer emergency medical technician firefighter in Wenonah, said, “You’ve given me my life so that I can return to my family and friends and my work.”
“We are extremely proud to mark our anniversary with our patients, their families and our expert clinicians, who are all part of our Trauma Family,” said Margaret Belfield, chief operating officer, ARMC, as she thanked patients and their families for their courage in facing trauma and commended the trauma team for its ongoing commitment to caring for patients and families and to providing education aimed at preventing traumatic injuries.
ARMC’s Trauma Center – Then and Now:
Opening Statistics:
The Center opened June 1, 1992. According to the Atlantic City Convention and Visitors Bureau there were more than 30 million visitors to Atlantic City alone that year. In its first month of operation, the Trauma Center Team treated 100 patients. The average patient ranged in age from 15-34 years old. Causes patients went to the Trauma Center the first month were:
• 52 percent motor vehicle crashes
• 9 percent pedestrian struck by motor vehicle
• 9 percent stabbing
• 6 percent bicycle injuries
• 6 percent assault
• 6 percent gun
• 3 percent diving
In the first eight months of operation, from June 1, 1992 through January 31, 1993, the Trauma Center treated 422 patients.
Current Statistics:
Since opening, ARMC’s Trauma Center has treated nearly 26,000 patients.
In 2011, the Trauma Center Team treated 1,704 patients. Total visitors to Atlantic City in 2011, according the ACCVA, was more than 28 million.
In 2010, the Center treated its highest number of patients – 1,908. The center expects to treat between 1,800 and 2,000 patients in 2012. The average patient age today is 48.
Over the last two decades the mechanism of injury has shifted to approximately
• 90 percent blunt trauma, including injuries from motor vehicle crashes, falls, water sports and watercraft injuries
• 10 percent penetrating trauma including cuts, stabbings, gun shot wounds
About ARMC’s Trauma Center:
The experienced Trauma Team at ARMC treats the most critically injured patients with the most advanced technology. Located in Atlantic City, an international tourist destination, the center treats residents of and visitors to Atlantic City, as well as visitors from throughout the country and the world who are injured in Atlantic, Cape May and southern Ocean Counties.
• 47 percent reside in the Atlantic County area
• 13 percent reside in southern New Jersey region other than Atlantic County
• 26 percent are from other areas of New Jersey
• 14 percent are from outside New Jersey (including international)
The team uses a multidisciplinary approach to care. It collaborates with first responders and community hospitals to ensure critically injured patients get quality care they need within the “Golden Hour” of Trauma. The team also coordinates discharge and follow-up care – regionally and internationally.
“One of our patients, who lives in California but was injured in a watercraft accident in New Jersey decided she wanted her follow-up surgeries at AtlantiCare – even though she could have had them in California,” said Monica Titus, RN, Trauma Program director.
ARMC is one of ten trauma centers in the state. It is one of seven Level II trauma centers. A Level II trauma center is expected to provide definitive trauma care, regardless of the severity of injury. Level II trauma centers have most of the clinical capabilities of a Level I. Level II trauma centers are required to participate in trauma research conducted by the Level Is and to sponsor public and provider educational programs in cooperation with the Level I centers. Level II trauma centers must treat a minimum of 350 patients per year.
ARMC’s Trauma Center at AtlantiCare is staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days of the year by trauma surgeons, anesthesiologists, trauma nurses, respiratory therapists, on-call consultants and vital support services, including transfusion services, laboratory services and diagnostic radiology.
The Verification Review Committee (VRC), an ad hoc committee of the Committee on Trauma of the American College of Surgeons (ACS), reverified the Harrah’s Regional Trauma Center at AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center Atlantic City Campus as a level II trauma center in 2011. This achievement recognized the trauma center’s dedication to providing optimal care for injured patients. The verification covers three years. ARMC’s Trauma Center had last earned verification in 2011.
The Trauma Center offers a wide range of educational opportunities for both the community and health care providers. Community educational venues include, but are not limited to:
• Fall Prevention program for seniors – focuses on medication, falls prevention and other safety issues affecting seniors.
• Prevent Alcohol and Risk Related Trauma in Youth (P.A.R.T.Y.) – focuses on teaching adolescents importance of making smart choices.
• Infant Swimming Resource Aquatic self-rescue™ instruction for children 6 months to 6 years of age (fee required).
Professional educational venues the Trauma Center offers include, but are not limited to:
• Annual Trauma Symposium for healthcare professionals and volunteers, focusing on advances in trauma and emergency medicine (fee required).
• Monthly Emergency Medical Services Education Series – Monthly Educational for Emergency Medical Services Professionals to gain educational credit.
• Trauma, Triage & Transport classes for Emergency Medical Services classes as needed review New Jersey State Triage Guidelines for treatment and transport of patients with traumatic injuries.
• Weekly Grand Rounds physician presentations in the hospital open to all care providers, regardless of where they work.
• Community hospital presentations on various topics related to care and/or transport of trauma patient – as requested.
• Annual Lifeguards Safe Attitudes and Valiant Efforts (SAVE) event in collaboration with the Life Rolls On™ Foundation and the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation for paid and volunteer lifeguards throughout New Jersey.
ARMC Trauma Center History:
June 1, 2012 – ARMC Trauma Center marks 20th year of serving community.
May 16 – 18, 2011 – ARMC Trauma Center has largest attendance at annual Trauma Symposium as more than 600 from across the country attend educational event.
July 20, 2009 – ARMC Trauma Center and AtlantiCare LifeCenter offer Infant Swimming Resource’s Self-Rescue™ classes – making AtlantiCare first health care organization in the nation to offer this nationally recognized program.
Sept., 2008 – Final floors open in George F. Lynn Harmony Pavilion, including new intensive care unit (ICU) that features 26 private rooms –and four new medical and surgical floors, each with 30 private inpatient suites – where ARMC Trauma patients are treated.
Oct. 15, 2007 – New Trauma Resuscitation Bay with 4 beds opens at ARMC Atlantic City Campus.
July 31, 2007 – Officials from AtlantiCare and the Harrah’s Foundation announce the Harrah’s Foundation pledge of $1 million to AtlantiCare’s Special Gifts Campaign. In recognition of the contribution, AtlantiCare officials announce the renaming of the Trauma Center to the Harrah’s Regional Trauma Center at AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center Emergency Center.
May 24, 2007 – ARMC opens its new rooftop helipad, marking phase I of the $128 million expansion of the hospital’s Atlantic City Campus.
Jan. 19, 2005 – AtlantiCare announces ACMC City Division expansion project and that it is renaming Atlantic City Medical Center – AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center (City Campus and Mainland) to better reflect the medical center’s regional delivery of health and wellness services.
Feb. 1998 – ARMC Trauma Center holds first Regional Trauma Symposium at Sheraton in Atlantic City.
Feb. 9, 1993 – Ribbon cutting marking opening of Phase II of ACMC Trauma Center – Helipad and holding area; expanded and updated blood bank, addition of 7-bed Trauma Intensive Care Unit, opening of expanded and updated Trauma Resuscitation Room, addition of two-high speed elevators.
June 1, 1992 – Phase I opening of ACMC Trauma Center becomes a verified Trauma Center from the American College of Surgeons.
July, 1991 – New Jersey State Health Care Coordinating Committee endorses a proposal for ARMC City Campus to become a regional trauma center.
Sept., 1991 – Casino Reinvestment Development Authority approves $2.8 million in financing, $1.8 million of which was funded by the Sands Casino Hotel, to assist in construction of $3 million Trauma Center project.
Dec., 1990 – ARMC, then Atlantic City Medical Center (ACMC), receives Certificate of Need from state to become a Regional Trauma Center
For More Information:
For more information, call the AtlantiCare Access Center at 1-888-569-1000, visit www.atlanticare.org or follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/atlanticare.
– Sponsored Content

Spout Off

Stone Harbor – Could the North Wildwood spouter tell us what kind of company he refers to that has already gotten tariff increases. Waiting for the reply spout!

Read More

Sea Isle City – Great picture of the 82nd street playground in Stone Harbor. Take note, Sea Isle, the shade provided. Maybe inquire and then just like Nike, just do it!

Read More

Most Read

Print Editions

Recommended Articles